• Open Championship

Westwood and McIlroy blame themselves

Lee Westwood performed admirably with a swollen ankle © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Casey concedes Oosthuizen was unstoppable
  
• News: McDowell plans rest after 'diabolical' performance
  
• News: Oosthuizen admits he feared Casey shootout
  
• News: Oosthuizen makes history at the home of golf
  
• News: The Open: What They Said
  
• Profile: Rory McIlroy | Lee Westwood

Lee Westwood and Rory McIlroy gave realistic appraisals of their Open Championship performances on Sunday, admitting they only have themselves to blame.

The British pair could only watch on as Louis Oosthuizen shocked the golfing world by claiming his maiden Major, a feat Westwood and McIlroy are yet to achieve. Westwood followed up 2009's third-placed finish with a second-placed performance at St Andrews, yet he never looked a serious challenger all week.

McIlroy's was a different story after he flew out of the blocks with a record-equalling 63, only to end his hopes with an 80 in the second round. The Northern Irishman finished one stroke behind Westwood on eight-under, and both men confessed they have to do better.

"If you get close and you lose, then there's disappointment, but I didn't even get within eight shots today," said Westwood. "I played steadily. I played okay all week without really doing anything too special. I didn't make enough of the opportunities that my long game presented, really. I didn't putt well enough, my short game wasn't quite sharp enough.

"I keep putting myself into contention in these Major Championships and keep finishing in the top three. It's not really to be sniffed at and complained about. That's all I'm going to try and do, just try and keep going as I am, keep working out, trying to improve little bits and hopefully one of these chances will turn into a trophy.

"I don't know if it's around the corner, but hopefully it's about three weeks away. I can't do much more than I'm already doing. I'm trying to improve all the time and I'm sticking myself in contention. I'm showing a lot of consistency but it's not quite been good enough."

McIlroy was left to rue the fact that his aggregate score over the first, third and fourth rounds matched Oosthuizen's winning total of 16-under.

"For three rounds I was 16-under-par. So it's in there, and I knew I had a great record coming into this event, I love this place, but it was just a pity about Friday," he said.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.